From the Archive: Brothers Giuseppe and Sunshine at 14 Weeks, November 11, 2007
In one of the first desk sets at 14 weeks that would occur regularly over 16 years, brothers Giuseppe and Mr. Sunshine intertwine all their paws and look straight at me, certain that I’m looking straight at them and not that big box over their heads. And, in fact, I am looking straight at them because they are totally distracting me.
At 14 weeks old they are just past the fuzzy kitten stage and started to look a bit more mature with suddenly long legs and really tall ears, and sleeker, shiny fur. They look like they’re having some serious thoughts. And they are secure in how the human can be manipulated with any little thing they do.
The Four paired off in different ways over the years and Giuseppe and Jelly Bean were famous for their comical studio wrestling acts while Mr. Sunshine and Mewsette were daily cuddlers. But Jelly Bean was all fun and games and Mewsette was often off in her own thoughts. Giuseppe and Mr. Sunshine both had strong personalities and as they matured they paired off less often for cuddles like this, but kept each others’ company well. One of the reasons the tote bag and keepsake design “Black and Light” is so special to me (see at bottom). Every once in a while they’d clash a little and get a little swatty and squint at each other, but by the next major nap time they’d all be together.
“Giuseppe” translates from Italian to “Joseph” and because Giuseppe’s full name seemed a bit heavy for a kitten I had started calling him “Joey” around this time. I wasn’t sure if it would stick and wasn’t concerned, and it didn’t, but it suited him well for his kittenhood.
I paired this photo with the post below from 2023 of the two of them together, Mr. Sunshine giving Giuseppe some hassle and feeling full of himself in the back yard in their last autumn, just the two of them left after we’d lost Mewsette and Jelly Bean in the previous months.
Photos from previous years on this date
Mr. Sunshine and Giuseppe Mix It Up, and Updates, 2023
Mr Sunshine is feeling a little spicy and trying to mix it up with his brother Giuseppe, and see the video below for his athletic leap off the wicker and his sprint across the yard!
After their group veterinary visit last month, Mr. Sunshine has responded well to the addition of methimazole to help manage his hypertension. About a week after it started he began these sprints around the yard. I’m so happy to see him far more energetic and playful than he has been in a couple of years.
Giuseppe, on the other hand, has been having some more serious issues. It seemed like the addition of methimazole to his regimen was helping manage his hypertension, but a little over a week ago I noticed new habits, maybe wandering, not really responding to me when I called him, although he had great appetite and litterbox use was normal.
Weekend before last I could tell something was developing and it involved his vision so last Monday morning I took him to Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care where we discovered that he had lost some vision in his right eye. We’ve increased his regular hypertension medication a little bit and it seems his wandering and circling is him compensating by using his left eye more, walking with walls and objects on his left side.
I had two vendor events over the weekend, and 5:00 Sunday morning he woke me up walking around in my bedroom seeming to be having a seizure, skittering around, seeming to be trembling, but he had made it up the steps. I picked him up and he calmed immediately so I don’t think that’s what it was and it’s hard to tell after a seizure is over. So I considered running him to an emergency veterinarian or just observing him until I had to leave. I was able to message with Dr. Elgersma and since Giuseppe was alert and had a great breakfast I put him in the bathroom while I was away, and he had a reiki session with Ingrid King. It all worked out well, and I’ve been putting him in the bathroom overnight to give him a break and let him rest where there’s water and food and a litter box easily available.
Here is the video:
Sad about Giuseppe, but Mr. Sunshine tries to make it all better
Not sure where this is going to go, but purrs are welcomed.
The events and preparation for them, changes in medications and observing these three took way more time that I thought it did. I didn’t realize I haven’t posted for three weeks!
I can’t describe the sadness I’m trying to hold at bay. Giuseppe was always the most athletic, racing me up steps two at a time, leaping up onto the cabinet when I was in the kitchen, grabbing all the treats from everyone, and his famous vocals. Not anymore, not right now at least. He stays on the floor and still walks around the walls and things, doesn’t really focus on me most of the time, no talking but some absent vocalizations. Once we get things under control he may regain some of his vision, and so some of his habits.
But Mr. Sunshine is a real star. His purrsonality has just blossomed and after being quite a serious kitty for years he’s kind of a clown. He must have inherited Mimi’s constitution and resistance to conditions!
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I had pictured this scratchboard artwork of the two of them in the lower left corner of a tote bag for years and finally made them in two different styles. Read more and purchase.
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Awww-worthy! Such a sweet bro duo!
Imagine them settling down like that and looking at you!